TIF committee approves apartment upgrades
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
By David Porter
Arcola’s tax increment financing (TIF) committee approved two requests for assistance on the same property. The request will now go to the full City Council.
The property is a five-unit apartment at 106 N. Oak St. owned by Jacey Legacy LLC. The first request is for up to $25,000 in eligible expenses for improvements. The second is for up to $20,000 for a storefront rebate.
The application was made by Stacy and Joyceonia Robinson. Chris Robinson is the contractor on the project. Both projects call for $300,000 in improvements including gutting the interior and rebuilding it. Facade improvements include tuck pointing, siding, cleaning, and replacing doors and windows.
At the Dec. 1 meeting, the Council approved an annual abatement of taxes for general obligation bonds in the amount of $110,410. The bonds are guaranteed by property taxes, but the abatement means the city will pay those costs from other funds rather than property taxes.
The city also set its tax levy of $340,500. Also approved were holiday bonuses, tourism committee report, and zoning report. The zoning report includes a portable shed for Stephen Green at 305 E. Madison, valued at $8,000, and a commercial shed for ANDD Rentals at 425 S. Oak St., valued at $96,500. Fees totaled $418.
Bill Wagoner, city administrator, wrote in his report that the city has a couple of prospects for the former Hen House building and hopes to have something “back up and running” there soon.
The west side sewer project will begin Monday, Dec. 8. “B&T Drainage plans to start on the West Jefferson and will snake their way through. We will be replacing the resident’s portion of the sewer where it is clay tile up to the clean-out by the house.”
The city also has a preconstruction meeting Hoerr Construction on Dec. 4 for south side sewer lining. The work should not affect residents’ service “other than blocking the road at time.”
The Libman road project is completed, Wagoner said. “The IDOT (Illinois Dept. of Transportation) paperwork has been submitted to close out the project, and we are just waiting for our final reimbursement to the city.”
The Main Street project is also “wrapped up for the most part,” he said. There are more handrails in production and those will be installed soon weather permitting.